Instant tea powder

Abstract

An instant tea powder having the full nutritional content of the original tea leaves. The instant tea powder is made up of finely ground tea leaves mixed with a powdered or particulate edible agent, such as sugar, which prevents clumping or coagulation of the powdered tea leaves.

1 . An instant tea powder, comprising: 
 a) tea leaf powder made by grinding tea leaves to a particle size of 5-30 μm; and    b) an edible powdered or particulate agent operative to prevent clumping of said tea leaf powder;    wherein said tea leaf powder and said agent are mixed with one another so that said instant tea powder has a uniform consistency.    
   
   
       2 . The instant tea powder of  claim 1 , wherein said tea leaf powder has a particle size of 5-15 μm.  
   
   
       3 . The instant tea powder of  claim 1 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of sugar, salt, dehydrated milk, spices, herbs and protein powder.  
   
   
       4 . The instant tea powder of  claim 1 , wherein said tea leaf powder is a green tea leaf powder.  
   
   
       5 . The instant tea powder of  claim 1 , wherein said agent is operative to absorb humidity.  
   
   
       6 . A method of making an instant tea powder, comprising: 
 a) providing a tea leaf powder having a particle size of 5-30 μm;    b) providing an edible powdered or particulate agent; and    c) mixing said tea leaf powder and said agent with one another so that said instant tea powder has a uniform consistency;    wherein said agent is operative to prevent clumping of said tea leaf powder.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tea leaf powder has a particle size of 5-15 μm.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said agent is selected from the group consisting of sugar, salt, dehydrated milk, spices, herbs and protein powder.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said tea leaf powder is a green tea leaf powder.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said agent is operative to absorb humidity.